Army to use bamboo materials in construction of bunkers in high altitude areas

Guwahati: The army has decided to use bamboo-based materials for construction of bunkers in high altitude areas, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, in order to reduce the time and effort required for ferrying supplies.

As part of the initiative, Gajraj Corps of the Army, stationed at Tezpur in Assam, signed a MoU with IIT Guwahati on Monday to carry out research, design and fabrication of such bamboo panels. Troops of Gajraj Corps are posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and some other areas.

"The project will culminate in the construction of multiple defence works in high-altitude terrain for field trials, where they will be subjected to small arms fire and endure an entire weather cycle. The fabricated panels will provide the same level of protection, albeit with reduced weight, which will decrease the time and effort required for ferrying supplies, ultimately enhancing force preservation," Army said in a statement on Tuesday.

The move, the army said, is part of Chief of the Army Staff's “Decade of Transformation” initiative.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Maj. Gen. Rohin Bawa, GOC of the army's Red Horns division and Devendra Jalihal, director, IIT Guwahati. "This initiative marks a significant milestone in strengthening the Indian Army's capabilities which are aligned with the vision of the Chief of the Army Staff Decade of Transformation."

The signing of this MoU marks a significant step towards innovation and collaboration, setting new standards for cooperation between government R&D institutions and military educational bodies to drive technological progress. The partnership between Gajraj Corps and IIT Guwahati is beyond an agreement and represents a shared commitment in exploring new technological frontiers and addressing modern battlefield challenges.

The GOC Bawa said the Army was constantly trying to integrate niche technologies and emphasised the importance of the MoU in developing deployable solutions for the operational area. "Collaborative role of academia, industry, researchers and start-ups can help us in fostering a whole-of-nation approach. This partnership will contribute to ground-breaking achievements and support the nation's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative."